Fire-extinguisher.



G. T. PEARSONS.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

APPLlcATmN FILED AuG.4.1916

GEORGE fr. rEARsoNs, F NEW Yonxfn. Y.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

Specification of Letters Patent. i nlatenteding. 31, 1918 Application filed August 4, 1916. Serial No. 113,049.

' To all [P710/n, it may concern Extinguishers, of which the following is a speclfication.

` This invention relates to tire extinguishers of the type 1n wlnch a tire extinguishing liquid contained 1n a tank or reservoir 1s discharged therefrom by a pressure created Within the reservoir. such as a gas pressure resulting from the reaction of the mixing of gas generating materials normally maintained in a separated condition in the reser* voir. The fire extinguishing liquid used in this type of extinguisher is ot such a nature that it will quickly evaporate, resulting in the necessity of frequent examination of the extinguisher and the refilling of the same, and it is an object of the present invention to provide means. which may be readily ruptured and punctured. to seal the discharge outlet of the reservoir: and to provide means operable by the pressure in the reservoir to puncture or rupture saidclosure to tree the contents of the reservoir.

A further object ofthe invention relates to extinguishers of this type in which the gas is generated in a generator in the reservoir having an outlet leading into the reservoir, and the provision of means to close the outlet of the enerator and to provide means, which may e readily punctured or ruptured, to close the outlet of the generator and maintain the gas generating materials in the generator free from the liquid in the reservoir, and to provide meansmounted in the outlet of the generator and operable by the pressure in the generator to puncture said closure to permit of the flow of the generated gas into the reservoir.

Another object of the invention relates to improved outlet means for the reservoir and to connect said outlet to the liquid in the lowermost part of the reservoir in all positions of the latter.

In the drawing accompanying and forming apart of this specification Figure 1 is al sectional side elevation of a fire extinguisher illustrating an embodiment ofmy invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the closures for the reservoir and generator outlets and the means to puncture or rupture sald Closures' the section being taken subL stantially on the line of Fig. l and looking 1n the direction ot the arrows; and

Fig is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar characters of reference designate like parts throughout the dilerent vieivs ot the drawing. i

ln the drawing l have illustrated an embodiment of my invention in connection with a fire extinguisher of the type in which the extinguisher is set in operation by inverting the extinguisher, and in which there is provided a reservoir for a fire extinguishing liquid` such .as carbon tetrachlorid. said reservoir preferably consisting of a cylindrical body portion 3 having an opening in one `end closed by a removable cover 4. and in the normal position of the extinguisher constituting the top, the other end being closed b v a bottom 5 preferably dished as shown` with a rod G extending transversely of the dished portion to constitute a hand grip. 'Ilie cover has an outlet port 7 having a discharge nozzle Seconnected thereto to extend laterally of the reservoir to adjacent the side.

As stated, the tire extinguishing liquid is expelled from the reservoir by pressure created in the reservoir. such as a gas pressure generated b v means in a generator in the reservoir. said generator consisting of a receptacle (l of .a width less than the internal diameter of the reservoir and maintained centrally ot the reservoir by lugs 12' on the generator engaging with the Wall of the, reservoir to. provide a space between the sides of the generator and reservoir and having a removable cover 9. said receptacle being supported and spaced from the bottom of the reservoir in the normal position of the extinguisherand having an outlet tube 10 in the bottom leading into the reservoir, said tube having lateral openings. as shown, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.-

A receptacle 1l having the upper end open Jfor a gas generating material, such as bicarbonate of soda, 1s supported in the receptacle G upon the tube 10. said receptacle being of less width than the receptacle G- and maintainedcentrally of the latter by laterally projecting lugs 12 engaging wit-hthe wall of the receptacle G. Supported 1n the receptacle 1l is a third receptacle 13.

such as a glass bottle, for another gas generating material such as hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, thd7 neck of the bottle extending to adjacent the cover 9 and having lateral openings as shown. By supporting the receptacle 11 on the tube 10 there is provided ay space between the bottom of the receptacles G and 11 in which is located a material through which the generated gas passes before passing out through the out-l let tube 10 to' lter and render the generated gas anhydrous or dry and non-acid, the said material being of a nature to absorb or neutralize any moisture or acid in such gas. sodium carbonate having been found to answer the purpose.

The generator outlet is sealed to maintain the gas generating materials free from the liquid in the reservoir by means as shown in Fig. 2 consisting of a fragile leaf 14. such as tin foil, secured between a pair of washers 15 and connected to the generator outlet tube by a perforated cap 16. the closure carrying washers being clamped between said cap and the end of the tube 10. The closure leaf is ruptured or punctured to permit the passage of the gas from the generator into the receptacle, by means operable by the pressui-e within the generator, and which means consists of a tubular plunger (shown in a general way at, 17) engaging in the tube 10 and of less diameter than said tube to provide a space between the tube and the plunger. and the plunger having av restricted outlet 1S at one end with said end o f the tube pointed or beveled. The other end of the tube is slidably mounted on a perforated plug or tube 1t) in the tube 1t), and the per-v foration in the plug 19 is normally closed by a plug 2a carried by the plunger and maintained in closed position by a spring 21, this spring also retaining the plunger in position with the pointed end away from the fragile leaf closure. As gas is generated in th(l generator. the said gas passing through the perforated plug 19 in the outlet tube and impinging against the plug 2t) will move the. plunger forward and cause the pointed end to pierce the fragile leaf 14. A\fter the leaf has been punetured the gas enters between the plunger and tube l() and passes into the plunger through lateral ports` Q1 and out through the restricted outlet into the reservoir.

To prevent evaporation of the fireI extinguishing liquid in the reservoir` through the discharge outlety la. the said outlet is also `sealed by a closure as shown in Fig. .2 and as used to seal the outlet ot' the generator.

that a fragile leaf of tin foil carried between a pair of washers and the latter connected to the outlet tube 8 "by a perforated cap 23. and the fragile leaf is also punctured by means; operable by pressure from within the reservoir and consisting of a plunger the construction of which plunger and the connection thereof to the reservoir outlet being the same as the plunger 17 and the connection thereof to the generator out let. and as shown in Fig.

To connect the reservoir outlet with the liquid in the lowermost part of the reservoir in all positions of the latter there is connected to said outlet. al flexible tube Q5. commercially termed flexible metallic hose", to extend into the, reservoir. A rigid tube 26 extending longitudinally of the reservoir with on@y end adjacent the cover 4 and the other end adjacent the generator is connected between its ends to the free end otthe flexiblertube 25.

'lo at all times connect. the lowermost end of the tube 26 with the reservoir and shut ott' communication between the upper end of the tube and the reservoir there is provided a valve mechanism comprising a pair of valves 27, 28 connected by a rod 29 and adapted to cooperate with valve seats oonnected t0 or formed at the ends of the tube. To prevent said tube from engaging with the cover 4 or the generator, according to the position of the reservoir` with the consequent closing of the coperating end of the tube. cages 30, 31 in the form of caps having lateral ports are connected to the end ot' the tube (Flg. 3).

ln operation the extinguisher is inverted causing the soda in the receptacle 11 to fall against the cover 9 of the generator and the acid in the receptacle 13 to flow through the neck perfo 'ations and mix with the soda, the resultant gas passing between the sides ot' the receptacles and 11, through the filtering material into the outlet tube 10, the pressure of the gas as it enters said tube and nnpingesv against the tubular plunger 17 forcing the restricted end of the plunger through the leaf closurer and the gas then passing through said plunger into the reservoir. The generator is prevented from falling against the, cover t by a rod 32 fixed at one end to the generator to lie adjacent the wall ot' the reservoir with the other end abutting against the cover 4. As the force ot' the gaspressure is exerted upon the liq-v uid in the reservoir and the liquid is forced ont through tube 26, tube 25 and outlet T,

`and as it inipinges against the plunger therein it will force the restricted end of said plunger through the leaf closure when the liquid is discharged through the outlet nozzle H. Itl will be noted thatthe discharge tubes- 25 and 26 are connected to and remov able with the cover permitting of the ready removal of the generator and the thorough cleaning of the extinguisher. y

Having thus described my invention l claim 1. In a tire extinguisher, the combination with a reservoir for a tire extinguishing liquid having an outlet, of a flexible tube connected to said outlet, and a rigid tube extending longitudinally of the reservoir connected between its ends to the fi'exible tube,

supstantially as and for the purpose speci- Q. In a lire extinguisher, the combination with a reservoir for a fire extinguishing liquid having an outlet, of a flexible t'ube connectedf to said outlet; a rigid tube extending longitudinally of the reservoir connected between its ends to the flexible tube; and valves to close the opposite ends of the rigid tube, said valves being operable so that when one of the ends of the tube is closed by a valve the other end is open to the reservoir; substantially as and for the purpose specified. A

3. In a Ifire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir for a` fire extinguishing liquid having an outlet centrally in one end; a generator in the reservoir in which to generate gas having an outlet leading into the reservoir; a flexible tube fixedV at one'end in the reservoir outlet and adapted to have swinging movement and a rigid tube extending longitudinally of the reservoir connected between its ends to |the free end of the ilexible tube to swing therewith, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir having an opening in one end; a removable cover for said opening, said cover having an opening to constitute the discharge outlet of the reservoir; a flexible tube connected to said outlet to extend into lthe reservoir; and a rigid tube extending connect the generator With the reservoir, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a fire extinguisher, the combination with a reservoir for a fire extinguishing liquid having an outlet, of a generator in which to generate gas in |the reservoir having an outlet leading into the reservoir; a fragile leaf closure connected to said outlet; and a tubular plunger slidably mounted in the outlet of Ithe generator to normally be out of contact with the fragile closure, and operable from the pressures Within the generator to puncture the fragile closure to connect the generator with the reservoir` substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a fire extinguisher, the combination with a reservoir for a fire extinguishing liquidhaving an outlet, of means to create a pressure in said reservoir; a fragile closure connected to the reservoir outlet; and a tubular plunger operable from the pressures within the reservoir to puncture the fragile closure, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. 'In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir for a fire extinguishing liquid having an outlet; a. generator in which to generate gas having an outlet leading into the reservoir to create pressure Within the reservoir; a fragile leaf closure for the reservoir outlet; and avltubular plunger slidably mounted in the reservoir outlet and operable from the pressures within the reservoir to puncture the fragile closure, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir for a fire extinguishing liquid having an outlet; means to connect said outlet with theoliquid adjacentthe side of the reservoir in all positions of the latter; means to create a pressure in said reservoir; a fragile leaf closureconnected to said outlet; and a tubular plunger mounted 'in the reservoir outlet and` operable from the pressures Within the reservoir to puncture the fragile leaf, substantially as and for the purpose specified. l

GEO. T. PEARSONS. 

